yesterday my stellar memory got me in trouble.
i've gotta go back to illinois to take a photo on december 5th. drive home, take photo, drive back, as i'm on call from now until december 7th.
i committed to taking the photo before i realized. this happens a lot. i don't have a good memory.
my mom asked about coming to indiana with my brother/bros girlfriend/niece, i said "anytime, i'm on call all month". she comes to visit every year before xmas.
so she lines it all up for december 5th. which i didn't find out until yesterday, when i called to wish her a happy birthday.
"we're coming on the weekend of the 5th."
"um... that rings a bell for some reason."
so for my mom's birthday i pissed her off. that's a stellar feeling.
i know i am to blame, but somehow i feel like i should be able to blame my brain.
no one wants to hear brain excuses though.
what i've learned: never commit to anything, ever, unless i'm sitting at work, looking at the work calendar, and i've got gina's approval via email on the screen in front of me.
eff.
18 November 2009
09 November 2009
02 November 2009
30 October 2009
as seen in..
seriously.
this weekend... well, let's start with right now. i checked weather.com last night, and it called for a 70% chance of rain at 6am.
i don't normally ride a bike to work if it's raining - if the forecast calls for afternoon rain, i'll usually ride, knowing that my wet clothes can dry out at home. but to put back on wet clothes at work (for the ride home) doesn't have much appeal for me.
but i recently picked up what is supposed to be the primo rain jacket for bicycling, thinking that i enjoy the ride so much (and hate traffic and driving home so much) that perhaps i'd rethink the riding in the morning rain thing.
anyway, 70% meant that i laid everything out last night: shoes, socks, (regular, not rain) pants, boots for over shoes (because wet shoes are a pain to dry out), jersey, coat, helmet cover, waterproof gloves... all of it laid out, ready to go.
and then i woke up this morning and it looked perfect outside - no rain at all. stupid weather.com...
anyway, i rode to work without all that stuff, because it's like 65 degrees out there, and that's really nice weather for a bike ride. i did bring a cheap little rain jacket for the ride home. and now it has rained.
i'm also riding my singlespeed miyata exclusively right now, just as a change of pace.
ANYWAY. this weekend could be action packed, with rollerderby tonight and halloween tomorrow and beer tappings and friends and all that good stuff. we'll see how it goes.
yippee.
29 October 2009
good times!
I wrote this:
we've been entered into this dumb contest. and someone wrote this about the beer blog:
Gina is out of town right now, so you're stuck with me. Normally you'd get some sort of intro here - a story, a life lesson, something - but I'll just leave you with this. I may ride a bike to work, I might eat a decent amount of vegan foods, and I consider myself pretty open minded. But I hate hippies.And got this email:
Seriously. Mike. Go fuck yourself. You hate hippies? Great, keep it to yourself.anyway.
I just returned from the Night of the Funk and Belgian Beer fest in Boston, as well as a week spent beer-touring in NYC.
So this hippie is telling you to go fuck yourself.
I'm sorry for the offensive language and tone, to anyone besides Mike that may see this, but really, you started me off on the wrong foot.
You may think youre at the top of the beer game around here, but i'm telling you, just because you think one way, doesn't mean everyone does.
Have some sense. Some fucking couth if you will.
If you want to build and maintain a loyal reader base, I would suggest that you not outright-offend your readers. Esepecially those that are more active
and passionate about beer than you.
we've been entered into this dumb contest. and someone wrote this about the beer blog:
I had never heard of this blog before and so I went and checked it. It is a huge cluster F*** of a site. Difficult to find anything, and the beer reviews are confusing, wordy, and contain random things that have nothing to do with the beer. What a crap blogso it's been a good week.
22 October 2009
Now My Brother Is Famous
Playing the part of gutter installer #1. Or #2.
http://www.kmov.com/greatday/lifeandstyle/homeandgarden/?nvid=405846&shu=1
http://www.kmov.com/greatday/lifeandstyle/homeandgarden/?nvid=405846&shu=1
20 October 2009
I went to Detroit this weekend. Detroit is missing a lot of windows. Even newer looking buildings are missing windows. It's an odd scene.
I wish we had spent more time in downtown Detroit, or maybe even drove over to Canada, but it didn't happen. Maybe next time. Cousin Curt lives south of Detroit now, so trips up are pretty easy. And it's not that much further to drive than when we drive home, which we do less and less every year. Pretty soon home is gonna drive to us. The whole thing. I hope everyone fits in a two-person tent.
John's old room is still completely empty. The cat has decided that it's a room for running around and playing with toys at 1 am. Last night the cat got locked out of the room.
In other news, HBG is in the steps to become a certified LLC. This will enable us to have money and ventures and get sued on a limited basis. We're looking forward to being sued regularly.
Here's where you let me know how it's going for you.
I wish we had spent more time in downtown Detroit, or maybe even drove over to Canada, but it didn't happen. Maybe next time. Cousin Curt lives south of Detroit now, so trips up are pretty easy. And it's not that much further to drive than when we drive home, which we do less and less every year. Pretty soon home is gonna drive to us. The whole thing. I hope everyone fits in a two-person tent.
John's old room is still completely empty. The cat has decided that it's a room for running around and playing with toys at 1 am. Last night the cat got locked out of the room.
In other news, HBG is in the steps to become a certified LLC. This will enable us to have money and ventures and get sued on a limited basis. We're looking forward to being sued regularly.
Here's where you let me know how it's going for you.
12 October 2009
hmm
this weekend: tokyo (a movie of three stories), 300 (whatever), cardinals loss, us mnt win (and in the world cup), whip it (way better than expected), half of patton (so far so good), fifa 10 demo (underwhelming, actually..), a bike ride to watch a cyclocross practice (looks kinda fun), a flat tire, too much bad food, shallos on friday (and again tonight), house still not cleaned.
and riding to work is getting colder.
and riding to work is getting colder.
09 October 2009
05 October 2009
bike notes / WEEKEND
this weekend we saw zombieland and it was good, but not as good as shaun of the dead.
friday night i joined hbg jason and wife dani at an octoberfest celebration at one of those german/american clubs (klubs) that are stocked with old people. we were the youngest people there by 30 years, except for a few folks there with their grandparents or something.
regardless, we had a good time. at least the beer was authentic. and the band is going to be the new hbg house band.
BIKE!
bare with me - since this thing serves as my memory it's nice to have these notes for next time it's this cold
it's 49 degrees right now at 9:47 am, so it's safe to say that at 6 this morning i was dealing with 35-42
t6 cap
rapha winter
under armor
full finger undergloves (found them!)
bike gloves
pi knickers
wool socks
shoes
should have gone with toe covers, maybe...
i got to work and was a bit sweaty but i'm still cold 3 hours later. for same temps tomorrow i'll probably go with my castelli coat over rapha short sleeve and maybe even the full length tights.
and toe covers.
friday night i joined hbg jason and wife dani at an octoberfest celebration at one of those german/american clubs (klubs) that are stocked with old people. we were the youngest people there by 30 years, except for a few folks there with their grandparents or something.
regardless, we had a good time. at least the beer was authentic. and the band is going to be the new hbg house band.
BIKE!
bare with me - since this thing serves as my memory it's nice to have these notes for next time it's this cold
it's 49 degrees right now at 9:47 am, so it's safe to say that at 6 this morning i was dealing with 35-42
t6 cap
rapha winter
under armor
full finger undergloves (found them!)
bike gloves
pi knickers
wool socks
shoes
should have gone with toe covers, maybe...
i got to work and was a bit sweaty but i'm still cold 3 hours later. for same temps tomorrow i'll probably go with my castelli coat over rapha short sleeve and maybe even the full length tights.
and toe covers.
01 October 2009
last night after we got back from hbg/drinking i took out the trash and was walking back towards the house and looked in the garage and there was a convertible and some bicycles and a house and i thought "i have everything i want and need and nothing to complain about" and i smiled.
i hope this happens for you sometimes too.
i hope this happens for you sometimes too.
29 September 2009
more notes
40-50 degrees with 12 mph winds
t6 cap
rapha winter jersey, vents open
under armor
bib knicker
wool socks
specialized shoes (no covers)
half-gloves (coulda went either way, really)
arrived dry and just a little cold, good getup.
t6 cap
rapha winter jersey, vents open
under armor
bib knicker
wool socks
specialized shoes (no covers)
half-gloves (coulda went either way, really)
arrived dry and just a little cold, good getup.
28 September 2009
hello weather
notes to self.
57-63 degrees and certainly windy this morning.
getup: helmet
twin six cap
rapha france jersey
pearl izumi bib knicker
pearl izumi socks
specialized shoes
when i got out to the garage my first thought was to go back in and get a coat. i actually went in and grabbed one before i changed my mind. it was cold to start but once i got going everything was fine. i think the cap helps a lot. i suppose i could have gone with full fingered gloves, but my hands never bothered me. long sleeves would have been ok but i woulda been more sweaty when i got to work. as it stood i just toweled off my head and was pretty much good to go.
this type of weather doesn't last long.
yesterday/sunday i did this:
it's a route i'm used to with a few quirks thrown in, including a half mile hill with an average of 7.9% climb - if you live anywhere but indiana that wouldn't be a big deal, but it nearly killed me. i worked through all my gears and was a little worried i was going to fall over on the bike, clipped in and lacking momentum.
anyway, didn't happen.
on the back side of the loop i bombed down a hill and hit 43.5 mph, which seemed fast until i remembered that mark cavendish can sprint that fast. maybe next time i'll spin out a gear and see if i can hit 50 or so. though that gets kinda scary...
57-63 degrees and certainly windy this morning.
getup: helmet
twin six cap
rapha france jersey
pearl izumi bib knicker
pearl izumi socks
specialized shoes
when i got out to the garage my first thought was to go back in and get a coat. i actually went in and grabbed one before i changed my mind. it was cold to start but once i got going everything was fine. i think the cap helps a lot. i suppose i could have gone with full fingered gloves, but my hands never bothered me. long sleeves would have been ok but i woulda been more sweaty when i got to work. as it stood i just toweled off my head and was pretty much good to go.
this type of weather doesn't last long.
yesterday/sunday i did this:
it's a route i'm used to with a few quirks thrown in, including a half mile hill with an average of 7.9% climb - if you live anywhere but indiana that wouldn't be a big deal, but it nearly killed me. i worked through all my gears and was a little worried i was going to fall over on the bike, clipped in and lacking momentum.
anyway, didn't happen.
on the back side of the loop i bombed down a hill and hit 43.5 mph, which seemed fast until i remembered that mark cavendish can sprint that fast. maybe next time i'll spin out a gear and see if i can hit 50 or so. though that gets kinda scary...
22 September 2009
why mike, what have you been up to?
First off, I've got a bike for sale on ebay. So far, one bid. It's less money than I'd like to make off the bike, but I did set the minimum there. So it goes.
After that bike is sold, I have two options: pay down a credit card that has too much money on it, or buy a mountain bike. I think I'm leaning mountain bike. Even though that may be stupid.
What else.
John is leaving Casa de Atwood on October 5th, on his way to live in New York City.
My Spanish is not good.
What else.
Hoosier Beer Geek, that lovable group you may or may not be familiar with, is moving on to bigger and better things, including having a budget. Which will be nice, since we throw events. You may or may not have known that.
Also about a month ago we got a letter from a large beer company asking that we refrain from using our logo, which looked like theirs. Some would say that when the lawyers from multinational companies start contacting you, you've made the big time. I'd prefer to not see those letters. So... new logo? Ok, done. I can make logos.
That was the third anniversary logo great font debate sheet. Since we are now past the third anniversary, we've touched the logo up. Looks like this:
what you should know about the logo is that the lines through the lower half of the circle are meant to echo the design of a knight's facemask. The anniversary logo featured 3 candles (third anniversary), with the flame on the candle coming directly from the Indiana state flag. Look how clever I am. Sometimes I surprise myself.
Hmm... what else.
I have 6 days of vacation left, and no idea how to spend them. I might spend two of them in a tent in a park for lack of anything better to do.
Work is work. Biking there about 3-4 days a week now, I guess. Eating horrendous amounts of junk, maintaining a weight below 200 lbs.
I've taken up a habit of buying a pound of bacon from a local purveyor recently. I want to hang out with my old friends and their wives in a room with some nice drinks, fancy salamis and cheeses, grilled sausages, tasty breads, and we'll drink ourselves into nice conversations about god knows what. Getting old. Back pain. That damn economy. Health care.
Let's not talk about any of that. Let's talk about cars we're going to buy and drive fast. Let's talk about clubhouses. Let's talk about Colorado.
After that bike is sold, I have two options: pay down a credit card that has too much money on it, or buy a mountain bike. I think I'm leaning mountain bike. Even though that may be stupid.
What else.
John is leaving Casa de Atwood on October 5th, on his way to live in New York City.
My Spanish is not good.
What else.
Hoosier Beer Geek, that lovable group you may or may not be familiar with, is moving on to bigger and better things, including having a budget. Which will be nice, since we throw events. You may or may not have known that.
Also about a month ago we got a letter from a large beer company asking that we refrain from using our logo, which looked like theirs. Some would say that when the lawyers from multinational companies start contacting you, you've made the big time. I'd prefer to not see those letters. So... new logo? Ok, done. I can make logos.
That was the third anniversary logo great font debate sheet. Since we are now past the third anniversary, we've touched the logo up. Looks like this:
what you should know about the logo is that the lines through the lower half of the circle are meant to echo the design of a knight's facemask. The anniversary logo featured 3 candles (third anniversary), with the flame on the candle coming directly from the Indiana state flag. Look how clever I am. Sometimes I surprise myself.
Hmm... what else.
I have 6 days of vacation left, and no idea how to spend them. I might spend two of them in a tent in a park for lack of anything better to do.
Work is work. Biking there about 3-4 days a week now, I guess. Eating horrendous amounts of junk, maintaining a weight below 200 lbs.
I've taken up a habit of buying a pound of bacon from a local purveyor recently. I want to hang out with my old friends and their wives in a room with some nice drinks, fancy salamis and cheeses, grilled sausages, tasty breads, and we'll drink ourselves into nice conversations about god knows what. Getting old. Back pain. That damn economy. Health care.
Let's not talk about any of that. Let's talk about cars we're going to buy and drive fast. Let's talk about clubhouses. Let's talk about Colorado.
15 September 2009
10 September 2009
so gina and i are looking at doing this as vacation next year:
View Larger Map
a two-week blitzkrieg of everything i ever wanted to see (well, almost) ending with a trip to one or two great american beer festival sessions.
this'll surely be stupid expensive, but if i start saving now... and we also know people here and there along the way, so that helps at least a little bit.
she's on board so far, though every time i look at the map i find a new opportunity to go hiking somewhere amazing...
View Larger Map
a two-week blitzkrieg of everything i ever wanted to see (well, almost) ending with a trip to one or two great american beer festival sessions.
this'll surely be stupid expensive, but if i start saving now... and we also know people here and there along the way, so that helps at least a little bit.
she's on board so far, though every time i look at the map i find a new opportunity to go hiking somewhere amazing...
08 September 2009
07 September 2009
movies
inglourious basterds: b
extract: b
hangover: b+
harry potter and the halfblood prince: a-
ponyo: b
public enemies: b
star trek: b
up: a-
moon: a-
netflix
the dark knight: a-
batman begins: b
tyson: a-
grand torino: c+
watchmen: a
waltz with bashir: b+
the island: c
fitzcarraldo: c
the rock: d
paths of glory: b
the french connection: c
gone baby gone: b-
perfume: the story of a murder: a
tony takitani: a-
taken: c
extract: b
hangover: b+
harry potter and the halfblood prince: a-
ponyo: b
public enemies: b
star trek: b
up: a-
moon: a-
netflix
the dark knight: a-
batman begins: b
tyson: a-
grand torino: c+
watchmen: a
waltz with bashir: b+
the island: c
fitzcarraldo: c
the rock: d
paths of glory: b
the french connection: c
gone baby gone: b-
perfume: the story of a murder: a
tony takitani: a-
taken: c
04 September 2009
01 September 2009
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